Author Archives: lmharnisch

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About lmharnisch

I am retired from the Los Angeles Times

Millennial Moment: Soviets at Stalemate in Afghanistan, U.S. Economy Worst in Four Decades

Posted on December 19, 2012 by lmharnisch

Licorice Pizza! Michael Jackson’s “Thriller!” Men at Work! Kenny Loggins! Stray Cats! J. Geils Band! Foreigner! Dec. 19, 1982:  In the lead story, Times reporter Tyler Marshall says: “Despite three years of increasingly intense military operations and deepening political involvement, … Continue reading →

Posted in 1982, Film, Hollywood, Millennial Moments, Music, Politics, Washington | Tagged , , , , , | 3 Comments

Eve Golden / Queen of the Dead – Polly Walters

Posted on December 18, 2012 by lmharnisch

A photo of Polly Walters that has been listed on EBay at $49.95.   Polly Walters My friend Mel Neuhaus and I have been singing the praises of the Say Girls lately—those wise-cracking dames who flourished in the pre-Code era … Continue reading →

Posted in Eve Golden, Film, Hollywood, Queen of the Dead, Stage | Tagged , , , , , | 11 Comments

Movieland Mystery Photo (Updated +++)

Posted on December 17, 2012 by lmharnisch

Here is today’s mystery chap!

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo | Tagged , , , | 17 Comments

Mary Mallory / Hollywood Heights — Frank S. Hoover, Portrait Photographer and Apartment Developer

Posted on December 17, 2012 by lmharnisch

  Early Hollywood portrait photography developed from the need of stars for portraits to send out looking for roles, and from studios realizing the value of selling their product through stars. Los Angeles and Hollywood photographers recognized for taking photographs … Continue reading →

Posted in 1935, African Americans, Architecture, Hollywood, Hollywood Heights, Mary Mallory, Photography | Tagged , , , , , | 4 Comments

Stripper Discharged From Waacs Was Out of Uniform – and Everything Else

Posted on December 15, 2012 by lmharnisch

Dec. 15, 1942: Some restaurants close for lack of butter, meat and sugar due to wartime food rationing. And people rush to the Pike amusement park in Long Beach after rumors that it had plenty of hamburger, which is scarce … Continue reading →

Posted in 1942, Columnists, Comics, Food and Drink, Stage, Tom Treanor, World War II | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

A 100-Year-Old Lesson on L.A. Traffic

Posted on December 14, 2012 by lmharnisch

A Times graphic shows the problem of passengers caught between the streetcars and lanes of traffic. Broadway and 7th Street in 1934, showing a man crossing through a lane of traffic to get to a streetcar. Notice that the driver … Continue reading →

Posted in 1912, Downtown, Streetcars, Transportation | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

Housewives Scour Stores for Butter, Meat

Posted on December 13, 2012 by lmharnisch

Dec. 13, 1942: Housewives are searching for butter, meat and canned goods as wartime food rationing depletes grocery shelves, The Times says. Farmers report that agents for restaurants and hotels are approaching them “with instructions to get eggs no matter … Continue reading →

Posted in 1942, Art & Artists, Comics, Film, Hollywood, World War II | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on Housewives Scour Stores for Butter, Meat

Millennial Moment – Investigation of LAPD Spy Unit Sought

Posted on December 12, 2012 by lmharnisch

Dec. 11, 1982: David Johnston writes about the case of undercover LAPD Officer Fabian Lizarraga, who infiltrated the Revolutionary Communist Party and led protesters in a May Day march in 1980 that resulted in a fight with police and arrests … Continue reading →

Posted in 1982, Crime and Courts, LAPD, Millennial Moments | Tagged , , , | 4 Comments

Eve Golden / Queen of the Dead – Dan W. Quinn

Posted on December 11, 2012 by lmharnisch

A copy of “More Work for the Undertaker” that was listed for sale at Collectors Frenzy at $137.50. Dan W. Quinn A few weeks ago, I introduced you to early recording star Ada Jones; now I want you to meet … Continue reading →

Posted in Eve Golden, Queen of the Dead | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Movieland Mystery Photo (Updated ++++)

Posted on December 10, 2012 by lmharnisch

Here’s our mystery chap for Monday in a mystery film….

Posted in Film, Mystery Photo | Tagged , , | 42 Comments

Mary Mallory / Hollywood Heights – Altadena’s Lovely Christmas Tree Lane

Posted on December 10, 2012 by lmharnisch

Christmas Tree Lane in a vintage postcard, courtesy of Mary Mallory. Nothing says Christmas like the sight of beautiful outdoor twinkling lights lending a bit of romanticism and happiness to the holiday season. Homes and businesses spiffily decorate themselves. Cities … Continue reading →

Posted in Hollywood Heights, Mary Mallory, Pasadena | Tagged , , , , , | 3 Comments

On Eve of Pearl Harbor Anniversary, Roosevelt Halts Enlistments

Posted on December 6, 2012 by lmharnisch

Dec. 6, 1942: As the nation nears the first anniversary of Pearl Harbor, President Roosevelt halts all enlistments in the armed forces, shifting the military entirely to the draft. The services also stopped taking men older than 38 and opened … Continue reading →

Posted in 1942, African Americans, Hollywood, Music, World War II | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on On Eve of Pearl Harbor Anniversary, Roosevelt Halts Enlistments

Millennial Moment – Cheating at Card Clubs

Posted on December 5, 2012 by lmharnisch

Dec. 5, 1982: George Reasons and Anne La Riviere write a long investigative piece about professional cheats at the card clubs in Bell and Gardena. According to Reasons and La Riviere, cheaters are divided between mechanics who manipulate the cards … Continue reading →

Posted in 1982, Crime and Courts | Tagged , , | Comments Off on Millennial Moment – Cheating at Card Clubs

Movieland Mystery Photo (Updated +)

Posted on December 4, 2012 by lmharnisch

Here are three mystery chaps in a mystery film.

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo | Tagged , , , | 18 Comments

Eve Golden / Queen of the Dead – Joan Crawford

Posted on December 4, 2012 by lmharnisch

  A photo of Joan Crawford and Walter Huston in “Rain” has been listed on EBay with bids starting at $11.99. Joanie   No unknowns for us today, I am going to sing the praises of Joan Crawford, whom I … Continue reading →

Posted in Eve Golden, Film, Hollywood, Queen of the Dead | Tagged , , , , | 5 Comments

Mary Mallory / Hollywood Heights – Alhambra Promoted Through Song

Posted on December 3, 2012 by lmharnisch

One of the all-time greatest booster campaigns led to explosive growth in the city of Los Angeles in the early 20th century. Advertisements, brochures, postcards, sheet music, all boasted of the uniqueness of this unknown urban oasis. Publicists preached the … Continue reading →

Posted in 1922, Hollywood Heights, Mary Mallory | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on Mary Mallory / Hollywood Heights – Alhambra Promoted Through Song

Buck Jones Among Hundreds Killed in Cocoanut Grove Nightclub Fire

Posted on November 30, 2012 by lmharnisch

Nov. 30, 1942: Saying “My hands are trembling all over this typewriter keyboard,” Associated Press writer Harry C. Glasheen writes of his experiences covering Boston’s Cocoanut Grove fire, which had a final death toll of 492 people, including Western movie … Continue reading →

Posted in 1942, Comics, Film, Fires, Hollywood, World War II | Tagged , , , | 9 Comments

Millennial Moment – Nick Stewart’s Ebony Showcase Theater

Posted on November 28, 2012 by lmharnisch

Nov. 28, 1982: Times staff writer John L. Mitchell profiles Horace “Nick” Stewart, who opened the Ebony Showcase Theater with his wife, Edna, in 1950. Stewart used the money from playing Lightnin’ in the 1950s TV series “The Amos n’ … Continue reading →

Posted in 1982, African Americans, Film, Millennial Moments, Stage, Theaters | Tagged , , , , , | 7 Comments

Eve Golden / Queen of the Dead – Charlotte Greenwood

Posted on November 27, 2012 by lmharnisch

  Charlotte Greenwood Usually I regale you with harrowing stories about people who die early, grisly deaths, but today we are going to put on our happy faces and talk about Charlotte Greenwood. You probably know her from the film … Continue reading →

Posted in Eve Golden, Film, Queen of the Dead, Stage | Tagged , , , , | 8 Comments

Movieland Mystery Photo (Updated ++++)

Posted on November 26, 2012 by lmharnisch

Here’s our mystery for Monday: Who’s the guest and what’s the movie?

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo | Tagged , , , | 26 Comments